Picture-mat.



No. 842,272. PATENTED JAN. 2.9, 1.907.v

J, l A. THOIMS- PICTURE MAT.

APPLICATION FILED IE'E. 24, 1906.

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JAMES A. THOMAS, OFCALLAWAY, VIRGINIA.

PICTURE-MAT.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 29, 1907.

Application filed February 24, 1906. Serial No. 302,725.

To all whom t may concern.-

Be it known that I, JAMES A. THoMAs, a citizen of the United States of America, residingat Callaway, in the county of Franklin and State of Virginia, have invented new and useful Improvements in Picture-Mats, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in picture-mats, its object being to provide a construction of mat which may be easily and economically manufactured and which is designed to give a frame effect to pictures with passe-partout bindings or ya deep-frame effect when the picture is mounted within a shallow frame.

The invention is illustrated is the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure l is a front view of the completed mat with a picture mounted therein. Fig. 2 is a horizontal cross-section thereof. Fig. 3 is a similar view showing a modification.

In carrying my invention into practice I provide a double mat composed of front and back mats l and 2, constructed of cardboard or other suitable material, a body portion 3v between the same, and a binding-strip i connecting the back mat with the body portion.

In the process of manufacture the front mat 1 is formed from a piece of cardboard or other material of the desired size and cut out at the center to form theusual opening 5, through which the picture is displayed, the center of the mat cut away in the production of said opening being employed to form the back mat 2, which corresponds in the completed structure substantially in area and contour with the opening 5. The body portion 3 is then formed of one or more strips of material and curved or properly shaped to give it a scroll or mold effect, the forward edge of said body portion being glued or pasted to the rear face of the front mat 1. If the picture is to be applied to the back of the rear mat 2, an opening 6 is formed in said mat and the picture 7 pasted to the rear surface thereof, so as to be exposed through the opening. The binding-strip 4 may be made from the material removed in the production of the opening 6 and is glued or pasted to the outer face of the body portion 3 adjacent the rear edge thereof, and to the edge of the back mat 2, which projects beyond the said rear edge of the body portion, thus forming a double picture-mat which may be cheaply manufactured owing to the saving of mate.- rial in its production. It will be observed that the mold or curvature of the body portion 3 is such that vthe binding-strip 4 fits within the outer concavity thereof and effectually holds the outer rear edge of said body portion from spreading.

As shown in Fig. 3, the picture 7 may be pasted to the front surface of the back 2, in which event it will not be necessary to form the opening 6 but in either case the construction will give a frame effect to the picture when a passe-partout binding is employed with the usual glass front or a deepframe effect When the matted picture is mounted within a shallow frame. In the production of a passe-partout picture it will of course be understood that the glass 8 will be arranged upon the front of the mat l and secured thereto by the usual edge binding 9.

The parts of the frame may be colored, painted, or otherwise ornamented to give any desired effect or to suit the taste or fancy of the manufacturer or user, and by the construction described it will be apparent that a very attractive mat may be produced in an exceedingly inexpensive manner.

Having thus described the invention, what y is claimed as new is 1. A picture-mat comprising a front mat having an opening therein, a rear mat, a body portion disposed between said mats and curved or shaped to give a scroll or mold effect, said bodyportion being secured to the front mat, and a binding-strip inclosing the body portion and fixed to the rear mat.

2. A picture-mat comprising a front matsection having an opening therein, a rear mat-section conforming in size to said opening, a body portion curved to give a scroll or mold effect and having its forward outturned edge secured to the rear of the front mat-section and its rear edge abutting against the front of the rear mat-section inside the edges thereof, and a binding-strip inclosing the outer rear edge of the body portion and secured thereto and to the projecting edge of the rear mat-section.

In testimony whereof I aflx my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JAMES A. THOMAS.

Witnesses:

R. A. BARNHART, J. B. JAMrsoN.

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